Vikram
Vikram is a brilliant and driven software engineer, with a passion for using technology to solve complex problems. He is highly respected in his field, and has a reputation for being a true innovator. Vikram's work has had a profound impact on the world, and he is constantly pushing the limits of what's possible. He is a natural problem-solver, and is always looking for new ways to use technology to make people's lives easier. Vikram is deeply committed to his work, and is known for his laser-sharp focus and tireless work ethic. He is a true inspiration to those who work with him, and his contributions to the field of software engineering will be felt for many years to come.
Vikram (Punjabi : ਵਿਕਰਮ) is one of the Duolingo's main characters who can be found in lessons, stories, and other events. He's a optimistic, open-hearted dreamer. "And Vikram? A wholesome family guy who has never met a person he didn’t like. To him, the more the merrier! Vikram = Fresh laundry + a sunny day + puppies!" ―Vikram's official character bio[1]
Stories
- Good Morning
- The Passport
- A New Jacket
- Junior's Exercise (mentioned)
- Vikram's Plants/The Garden
- The Car Is Broken
- A Strange Ending
- A Relaxing Weekend
- The Bag
- The Vegetarian
- The Basketball Player
- A Surprise Ending
- I Want The Sandwich
- The Wedding Present
- The Perfect Anniversary
- The Great Baking Show
- Can You Give Me The Recipe
- Surprise Party
- A Difficult Person
- Can I Have It? (mentioned)
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Character and Lore
From Stories
- Vikram has a wife called Priti, as seen in stories such as "The Passport".
- Vikram lives in the same apartment building as Junior and Eddy, as mentioned in "Junior's Exercise".
- His apartment is boring, according to Junior, but has a large TV.
- According to the story "A Vegetarian" and "That's Not Dinner," Vikram is a vegetarian.
From other media
- Vikram's 2021 New Year's Resolution was to tone down the dad jokes until he's actually a dad.
- Vikram appears to wear a dastar, suggesting he is a practicing Sikh.
- It is heavily suggested Vikram has AAPI heritage, since (along with Lucy and Lin) he was included in an Instagram post from Duolingo about Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month. This also makes sense considering his appearance, the suggestion he is a practicing Sikh, and his name, which is of Indian origin.
Zari
Zari is a charismatic and creative artist, with a talent for painting and drawing. She has always been fascinated by the world of art, and loves to experiment with new techniques and styles. Zari is known for her bold use of color and texture, and her work is both beautiful and thought-provoking. She is also a dedicated teacher, and loves to share her passion for art with others. Zari's students adore her, and she is known for her ability to inspire and motivate even the most reluctant learners. Zari is a true artist in every sense of the word, and her work has touched the hearts of many.
Stories
- The New Student
- I Say Thank You / Thanks?
- The Diary
- What's Your Name?
- Not For Kids / It's Not for Kids
- Art Homework
- The Love Letter
- Zari's Favorite Band / My Favorite Band
- Recycling Is Important
- Too Dangerous
- Zari Learns How to Drive
- The Baby Photo
- Let's Move the Bed
- Space Vikings
- Where Is The Dog?
- The Audition
- A Scary Movie
- The Drummer
- Clara's Party
- The Lost Costume
- On The News
- Is She Mad at Me?
- Pirate World
- My Horse Hates Me
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Character and Lore
From Stories
- Zari's diary color is pink, as seen in "The Diary".
- She works in a clothes store, as seen in "What do you Want?".
- She loves challenges, as seen in "My Horse Hates Me".
- She loves reading, as seen in "Late Fees".
- She is terrified of parrots and has psittacusphobia, as seen in "Pirate World".
- She has arachnophobia, as seen in "Nature Hike".
- Her favorite animals are baby animals, as seen in her profile.
- Her best friend Lily's favorite books are The History of Unicorns & Teenage Vampires In Love volumes 1 & 2. It was said that she didn’t return the books and always wants to keep borrowing things, causing her library card to be suspended, as seen in "Late Fees".
- When Zari is younger, as seen in Duolingo ABC, she wears a light blue hoodie covering most of her hair, the rest of her older appearance is the same.
- It's confirmed that Zari lives with her mother, father & brother as seen in "Thanks, Mom."
From other media
- Zari's New Year's Resolution for 2021 was to save eating ice cream till after dinner.
- Zari's favorite food includes pineapple pizza, hamburgers and coffee.
- Zari attends the same school as Lily and Miguel, which is further confirmed in "The new student". Oscar is their art teacher.
- Zari was confirmed to be Muslim when the Duolingo team used her to celebrate Muslim Women's Day.
- Zari's name might be short for the Persian name Zarin/Zareen/Zarina which can mean golden, fitting her character. In addition to her name being Persian, her name also means "flower" in Arabic.
- Zari likes the Korean musical band BTS.
- She likes to play video games, lollipops and is learning Karate, as seen in the new path system.
Eddy
Eddy is a talented and passionate musician, known for his captivating performances and soulful, heartfelt music. He has been playing the guitar and writing songs for as long as he can remember, and his music reflects his deep emotions and experiences. Eddy's songs are known for their raw honesty and vulnerability, and he has a gift for connecting with his audience on a personal and emotional level. His voice is both powerful and soothing, and his guitar playing is masterful. Eddy's talent has earned him a large and devoted following, and he continues to inspire and move people with his music.
Stories
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Character and Lore
From Stories
- Eddy is often the chosen character to get hurt, sick or injured, as seen in "Oscar's flowers,” "This tastes strange,” "My Leg hurts,” "Call a Doctor,” "An old friend,” The yoga class,” and "At the gym"
- He is revealed to be a gym teacher, as mentioned in "In the Front Row."
- Eddy considers Oscar his best friend, as seen in "The Model"
- It is also confirms that he works in the same school as Oscar as a gym teacher.
- Eddy may have a second job, which is implied in “Not for Kids.” Zari is babysitting Junior while Eddy works. Since Zari is also a student of Oscar’s at the same school, this implies that Eddy is working somewhere after school hours, until past Junior’s bedtime.
- Eddy is allergic to flowers, as seen in "Oscar's Flowers.”
- He and Junior own a parrot named Mary, as seen in "You are not Mary"
- His wife is never mentioned or seen in a story, although she is shown with baby Junior in beginner course lessons.
- He is Vikram's neighbour, as seen in "Junior's Exercise.”
- Eddy has an uncle named Edward, as seen in "Uncle Edward's house". However, Edward dislikes him, leaving his abandoned and broken mansion to him after he died.
- Eddy's birthday is revealed to be October 4th, as seen in “The Horoscope is a Big Lie”
- He is about 6 feet tall (around 1.83 m), as seen in (story citation needed)
- Eddy has trypanophobia (fear of needles), as seen in (story citation needed)
From other media
- Eddy's 2021 new year's resolution was to "remember to write 2021 instead of 2020... or 2019."
Junior
Junior is a rising star in the world of music production and songwriting, with a natural talent for creating catchy and innovative beats and melodies. He has a keen ear for music and a deep understanding of what makes a song connect with an audience. Junior's production skills are highly sought after, and he has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry. His ability to bring out the best in an artist and help them realize their vision has earned him a reputation as a gifted and collaborative producer. Junior is also a talented songwriter, with a knack for writing hooks that stick in your head and lyrics that resonate with listeners. His creativity and passion for music are contagious, and he is quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with in the music industry.
Stories
- Junior's Question
- A Question
- I Need Money
- My Head Is Too Big!
- The Dog
- A New Video Game / I Need a New Video Game
- Two Tickets, Please!
- You're not Maja! / You Are Not Mary
- Junior's Exercise
- French Fries Or Salad, Junior? / Junior’s Choice
- What Was That?
- Sports Are Great
- Lucy and the Dinosaurs
- The Elephants
- Very Sick / I Am Sick
- The Birthday Party
- Not for Kids / It's Not for Kids
- Father and Son
- Breakfast? / Junior's Breakfast
- Help! / An Emergency
- The Love Letter / A Love Letter
- The Fish Burial / Hercules's Funeral
- Recycling Is Important
- Aliens Exist
- A Coffee, Please!
- The English Test
- One Ticket to Barcelona
- Junior's Decision
- The Monkeys
- Junior's Birthday
- Pizza Night
- Whatever Junior Wants
- Junior Makes a Mess
- A Horror Movie
- Aunt Elisabeth
- Junior's Interview
- I Like Your Tie
- The Accident
- This Isn't a Date?
- The Cat Law
- The Worst Monkey in the Zoo
- The Monster Under the Bed
- Bad at Soccer
- Junior's New Business
- The Secret Place
- The Principal's Office
- Some Very Tasty Cookies
- The Mountain
- A Question
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Character and Lore
From Stories
- It is implied that Zari lives in the same apartment as Junior and Eddy, as seen in "Math Help".
- Junior's birthday is in May, according to "Junior's Birthday".
- He is Vikram's neighbor, as seen in "Junior's Question".
- Junior likes dogs, as seen in "I Want a Dog" and "I Really Want a Dog".
- Junior really likes ice cream, as seen in "The Monkeys".
- Junior's age is 8, as seen in "A Ticket to China!".
- It is implied that his apartment is next to an airport.
- Junior really likes Lily, as seen in "Love Letter", "I Like Your Tie" and "Isn't This A Date".
- Junior owns a fish named Bubbles in the English version and Hercules in the Spanish version, as seen in "Fish Funeral".
From other media
- Junior's 2021 new year resolution was to learn about things beyond frogs
Lily
Lily is one of the Duolingo main characters who appears in the stories, lessons and other events. She is a introverted, unenthused, deadpan emo teen, that secretly cares a lot.Lily is the lovable and quirky mascot of Duolingo, known for her bright green feathers and friendly demeanor. She is passionate about language-learning, and is always eager to help users achieve their goals. Lily is a beloved symbol of the Duolingo brand, and has inspired millions of people around the world to learn new languages. She is a natural teacher, and her enthusiasm for learning is contagious. Lily is also a tireless advocate for language-learning, and has been instrumental in helping to break down barriers and promote cross-cultural understanding. Her impact on the world of education has been profound, and her legacy will be felt for many years to come.
Stories
Stories and the characters names may be different depending on your language.
- The New Student
- Lily's Clothes
- Vacation Clothes
- I Say Thank You
- The Diary
- Lily Draws
- Sari's Favorite Band
- What's Your Name?
- The Art Homework
- Burial At Sea
- My Favorite Band
- Two Tickets
- The Horror Movie
- We Are Moving To Rome
- A Pink Dress
- A Nice Old Lady
- Vacation At The Airport
- The Best Grade
- The Drawing
- Zari, The Hairdresser
- Lily's Picture
- Move Your Bed
- Space Pirates
- A Dog Murder Mystery
- The Drummer
- This Isn't A Date?
- Clara's Party
- I'm The Manager
- The Refund
- The Lost Costume
- Cousins
- Remove This Statue
- Pirate World
- My card is suspended?
- A Walk in Nature
- The red jacket
Gallery
Character and Lore
(Bits of information about Lily's character and lore are scrambled across dozens of Stories, videos and Social media posts. If you know something that doesn't appear here, contribute and document here!)
From stories
- Lily works at a clothing store, as seen in "The Refund", "Vacation Clothes" and "I Am The Manager".
- Lily dislikes the sun, as seen in "Lily's clothes".
- Lily's favorite color is purple, and prefers to wear purple clothing, as seen in "Lily's clothes".
- Junior really likes Lily as seen in "Love Letter", "I Like Your Tie" and "Isn't This A Date."
- She does not dance, as seen in "Whats Your Name."
- She is allergic to horses, as seen in "My Horse Hates Me."
- Lily ends up being interested in Pirate Island, as seen in "Pirate Land."
- She has a classmate that she doesnt know, as seen in "What’s Your Name."
From Duocon 2022:
- Lily is described as a introverted and unenthused teen that secretly cares a lot.
- Lily is confirmed to be 16 years old.
- Lily is implied to be of Spaniard ethnicity and has an Aunt named Tara.
- Lily really likes pie, as seen when Zari says "surprising facts about Pi", she gets excited thinking Zari was talking about pie.
- Lily loves the singer Angélique Kidjo. When Zari mentions that she's gonna participate in the show, Lily gets excited to point of blushing, with glowing eyes. Zari asks if she's okay, since it's uncommon for her to act like this.
From other media
- Lily refused to make a new year's resolution for 2021.
- Lily is a fan of The Owl House, an animated Disney TV show.
- Lily appears to write off Valentine's Day as "just another consumer holiday", though this might be a façade to conceal the fact that she actually enjoys it.
- Her name is probably based on the German word for purple, "Lila."
Falstaff
Falstaff is a wise and experienced teacher, with a deep understanding of literature and the humanities. He is a gifted communicator, and is able to make complex ideas accessible to students of all ages and backgrounds. Falstaff's passion for teaching is contagious, and he has inspired countless students to pursue their dreams and achieve their goals. He is also known for his sense of humor, and his classes are always filled with laughter and joy. Falstaff is a beloved figure in academic circles, and his contributions to the field of education have been invaluable.Falstaff[1] (sometimes referred to as Grumpy Bear, Hungry Bear or just The Bear) is a character frequently appearing in Duolingo lessons and stories, without having a lot of real lore. Falstaff is an anthropomorphic bear almost always seen wearing a cyan or a red scarf and he is often seen with a grumpy look on his face. Besides Duo, he is the only other frequent character who is not human, but rather an animal. He is never really included in Duolingo's statements about characters, so that his name long remained unknown, which makes him different from other characters like Duo, Bea, Lucy, Lin, Oscar, Vikram, Lily, Eddy and Junior. All this has fans speculating about Falstaff's relationship to Duo as more of an antagonist. Since the lessons often include sentences about a bear doing rather anthropomorphic things, this has fans assuming all those sentences are about this particular bear, Falstaff, so that he is probably the one drinking beer in the German course etcetera.
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Trivia
- In the history of Challenges, Falstaff was featured once in December 2021. The challenge was titled Falstaff's Big Sleep, which was referencing the beginning of winter and the start of hibernation for bears.
- It was because of this challenge, it was revealed what Falstaff's name is.
- He and the mascot Duo are the only main characters to be non-human.
- He loves snacks.
Lucy
Lucy is a highly successful businesswoman, with a track record of entrepreneurship and innovation. She is a natural leader, with a talent for identifying emerging trends and opportunities. Lucy's business acumen is widely respected, and she is known for her ability to turn ideas into profitable ventures. She is also a mentor and role model to many young entrepreneurs, and her success has inspired countless others to pursue their dreams. Lucy's drive and determination are matched only by her compassion and generosity, and she is deeply committed to giving back to her community.
Stories
- One Thing
- Vacation Clothes
- The Reservation
- Lucy and the Dinosaurs
- The Cake
- Can I Take Your Picture
- A Love Story
- A Very Fancy Wedding
- Fifty Years Later
- The New App
- Waiting for Jorge
- The Password
- The Accident
- The Movie Is about to Begin
- The Art Show
- It's Forbidden to Feed the Seals
- The Yoga Class
- Too Many Things
- I'm Fine!
- Get Out of Here!
- Leave Me Alone!
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Character and Lore
From Stories
- Lucy says she's a great writer, as she has a very popular blog and has (or has written) a lot of books, as seen in "Lucy and the Dinosaurs".
- According to mid-lesson animations:
- Lucy was secret agent in the 80s.
- Lucy is a base jumper.
- Lucy is a heartbreaker.
- Lucy climbed the Mount Everest at least once.
- In the English to Welsh version, she has also climbed Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa).
- In the Portuguese to English version, she invites Duo to do Capoeira, a Brazilian martial-art.
- Also, instead of base jumping, she does motocrossing.
From other media
- Lucy's new year's resolution for 2021 was to write her memoirs.
- Lucy's favorite holiday is Halloween.
- Lucy seems to struggle with technology.
- She is seen using a typewriter in 2021, by which point computerized word processors would have been affordable and widely available.
- She did not know how to turn her camera and microphone on and off during a video call.
- Lucy and her granddaughter Lin are Chinese.
- Both Lin and Lucy are included in the AAPI heritage month instagram post.
- Lucy refers to herself as Lin's nai nai, Chinese word for grandma (奶奶), as seen in the official "Feeling Crabby" webcomic.
- They were featured in the February 2022 Lunar New Year challenge.
Lin
Lin is a talented and accomplished scientist, with a passion for research and discovery. She has made significant contributions to the field of genetics, and her work has led to breakthroughs in the treatment of a number of diseases. Lin is known for her sharp mind and analytical skills, and her colleagues admire her ability to think outside the box. She is also a gifted teacher, and her students value her insights and guidance. Lin's dedication to her work is matched only by her commitment to making the world a better place.
Stories
- The Vegetarian (old version, replaced with Vikram)
- The Reservation
- Where Are My Keys?
- The Cake
- At the Supermarket
- The Perfect Girlfriend
- The Elevator
- The Move
- A Very Fancy Wedding
- But I'm Driving
- The New App
- Where Are The Paddles?
- Whatever Junior Wants
- Memories From the Past
- Lin's Resume
- Something New
- What Are You Wearing?
- I Can Predict the Future
- Get Out of Here!
- Painting at Sunrise
- The Ex-Girlfriend
- Always Late
- New Year, New Bea
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Character and Lore
From Stories
- Lin is known for not sticking to a job and having a wide variety of hobbies. She loves vehicles and used to work in an auto-repair shop, as seen in "Do you need help?"
- She tried to be a taxi driver for one day but gave up, as seen in "To the Station".
- Lin enjoys singing and playing the guitar, as seen in various official artwork.
- Lucy thinks Lin is too indecisive and that's why she barely has any jobs, as seen in "The Tea Set".
- Lin is seen as a DJ in one of the Lesson Complete animations.
- She often forgets her personal belongings in random places and important dates, basic things like keeping her phone charged. She is considered by Bea to be always late to everything, as seen in "Always Late".
- Lin used to be a vegetarian, as seen in "The Vegetarian", before Vikram replaced her.
From other media
- Lin's best friend is Bea.
- Lin's new year's resolution for 2021 was to stop procrastinating (starting next week.)
- Lin is part of the LGBTQ+ community. She is a lesbian.
- Additionally, Lin has been referred to with singular "they/them" pronouns by the official Spanish Duolingo account.
- Lin and her grandmother Lucy are Chinese.
- Both Lin and Lucy are included in the AAPI heritage month instagram post.
- Lucy refers to herself as Lin's nai nai, Chinese word for grandma (奶奶), as seen in the official "Feeling Crabby" webcomic.
- They were featured in the February 2022 Lunar New Year challenge.
Oscar
Oscar is a talented and passionate chef, with a love for creating delicious and innovative dishes. He has trained in some of the finest kitchens in the world, and his culinary skills are highly respected by his peers. Oscar is known for his creativity and his ability to combine flavors in unexpected ways, and his dishes are a feast for both the eyes and the taste buds. He is also a dedicated teacher, and enjoys sharing his knowledge and skills with aspiring chefs. Oscar's passion for food is infectious, and he believes that cooking is both an art form and a way of bringing people together.
Stories
- To the Station!
- Can I Help?
- The Model
- Modern Art
- The Photo
- The Work Of Art
- I Want A Pizza
- Roses From Oscar
- Not An Artist?
- The Last Seat
- What Do You Need?
- The Worst Season
- The Portrait
- Can You Take My Picture
- That Is Art
- Oscar's Flowers
- My First Painting
- The Seat Is Yours
- I Want The Sandwich
- I Have No Reception
- Twenty Years
- The Art Show
- Where's My Jacket
- Inhale, Exhale
- Let's Save The Animals
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Character and Lore
From Stories
- Oscar is friends with Lucy, as seen in "The Painting".
- Oscar does boxing, as seen in "I Love Boxing".
- Oscar is Zari and Lily's art teacher, as mentioned in "The Art Homework".
- Oscar owns a garden, as seen in "Oscar's flowers".
- Oscar has a cousin named Osman, who is an actor in Hollywood, Los Angeles (California), as mentioned in "The Movie Premiere”.
- Oscar likes old souvenirs and tea sets, as told by Lin in "The Tea Set".
- Oscar hates magic tricks, as seen in "The Magic Trick".
- Oscar has a very sophisticated apartment, as seen in "I Can Fix It". He had expensive white towels, a beautiful new bathroom mirror and a beautiful vase in his bathroom. His apartment was also featured on a cover page of a design magazine last year.
- Oscar's way to deal with stress is to shout and scream with his therapist, as seen in "Inhale, Exhale".
From other media
- Oscar is friends with Lucy, as seen in "The Painting".
- Oscar does boxing, as seen in "I Love Boxing".
- Oscar is Zari and Lily's art teacher, as mentioned in "The Art Homework".
- Oscar owns a garden, as seen in "Oscar's flowers".
- Oscar has a cousin named Osman, who is an actor in Hollywood, Los Angeles (California), as mentioned in "The Movie Premiere”.
- Oscar likes old souvenirs and tea sets, as told by Lin in "The Tea Set".
- Oscar hates magic tricks, as seen in "The Magic Trick".
- Oscar has a very sophisticated apartment, as seen in "I Can Fix It".
- His apartment was also featured on a cover page of a design magazine last year.
- Oscar's way to deal with stress is to shout and scream with his therapist, as seen in "Inhale, Exhale".
- Oscar's New Year's Resolution for 2021 was to save up for his dream house in Paris.
- Oscar is part of the LGBTQ+ community. He is "into men (although he’s as discerning with men as he is with his cheeses and pretty much everything else)".